slider drawstrings & toggles

[riddler 0]

At WFFC, I had one interesting landing that is worthy of a remark. When I went to flare, I found one hand did not want to come all the way down. It turned out that the slider drawstring had managed to work it's way into my toggle so that I could not pull more than half-way down with one toggle.

Times like these, I remember skr's words about keeping "wings level". I compromised by pulling both toggles only half-way and sliding in for a fast landing at half brakes, but keeping my wings level with the ground to maintain lift.

I did a controllability check, including a full flare, after opening and stowing my slider, so I can conclude that the drawstring worked itself into my toggle at a later point in flight. The type of slider I have has two drawstrings, and they are both quite long when the slider is collapsed. Normally, when I get down, they are wrapped up with each other and I have to spend some time unwrapping them, but this time, one string managed to get in between the toggle and my hand.

I should also note that I have soft links and I do pull the slider behind my head after collapsing it. I also always wear gloves, so it's possible one of the string got in between my hand and the toggle without me feeling it.

Finally, I talked about this with Mustard, shortly after it happened, and she said it's happened to her as well. Anyone else have this happen, or have advice?

[lazyfrog 0]

for the moment it never happened to me... but will try and remember to roll the strings together...
glad you made it in one piece

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Fumer tue, péter pue
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ourson #10, Mosquito Uno, CBT 579

[slotperfect 7]

I jump PD canopies with the same type of two-line collapsible slider. To prevent the lanyards from becoming entangled with my toggles/steering lines, I throw the lanyards over the front of the slider after I zip it closed. The distance the lanyards have to travel going around the front of the slider leaves less hanging off the back, with the long part lying safely on top of the slider.

Hope this helps.

Arrive Safely

John

[Staso 0]

let them go over your shoulders after you pulled on them and they will
wave in a breeze behind you. unless you fly accuracy canopy and don't have
enough forward speed :)

stan.

--
it's not about defying gravity; it's how hard you can abuse it. speed skydiving it is ...
Speed Skydiving Forum

[bmcd308 0]

It has happened to me, as well. It was a morning jump with wet grass, and it's the only time anyone has ever complimented my surf. I think it probably looked longer to the other people on the load because of all the screaming.

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www.jumpelvis.com

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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Anyone else have this happen, or have advice?

It may not have been exactly the same, but didn't Brian Burke come to some conclusion about Holly's accident which sounds very very similar to what happened to you? It's a good thing you weren't flying a highly loaded canopy. Was this something that happened after your controllability check?

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[Samurai136 0]

It sounds like one of those things that just happens.

I usually pull the slider down, then kill it, and loosen the chest strap all the way. That tends to keep the loose ends of the kill lines as far away from the toggles as possible.

Ken

"Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian
Ken

[riddler 0]

I think that Brian said that both the fingertrap of the steering line and the soft link got caught in the grommet of the slider. This incident is the reason that I pull my slider down past the soft links.

Hooknswoop's words of wisdom: Either get bumpers and keep the slider up and away from the links, or pull it down all the way past the links and stow it behind your head.

I have two rigs - one with rapids that I keep the slider up, and one with soft links that I pull the slider down all the way behind my head.

Edited to add - yep, it happened after my controllability check, as stated in the original post. Also, I personally consider a 1.3 wingload high for my skill level (200 jumps), but I haven't had your canopy training either

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[CanuckInUSA 0]

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yep, it happened after my controllability check, as stated in the original post.

LOL ... I guess I was guilty of not properly reading your original post.

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Also, I personally consider a 1.3 wingload high for my skill level (200 jumps), but I haven't had your canopy training either

And who's fault is that?

Actually based on a close call I had in Calhan about one month ago, I realized that despite the fact I have had some canopy control training (and am a licensed private pilot which doesn't hurt), I am still very much at risk (just as anyone else is) of hurting myself if I use poor judgement while flying my canopy. I also believe that had I been flying a higher loaded canopy at the time of my Calhan close call, I'd have something written about me in the DZ.COM incidents forums.

Try not to worry about the things you have no control over

[bbarnhouse 0]

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Hooknswoop's words of wisdom: Either get bumpers and keep the slider up and away from the links, or pull it down all the way past the links and stow it behind your head.

I have had this happen twice on two different canopies.
Many people dont colapse the slider but rather roll it, pull it over the slinks and put it in their mouth.
Others tie the lanyards together in the center of the slider while others use a velcro attachment that is placed behind their head. At any rate make sure you do a control check each and every time you are under canopy.
BB

[pds 0]

first a question: what do you call the ring the brake lines go through?

after a relatively uneventful deployment i realized that i i could not collapse my slider. somehow the tab sewn on the end of the string had worked itself into the ring, next to impossible to clear and completely bound up the brake line. had to land on rear risers. sure glad the grass was wet.

on the ground i looked at it and of course my first reaction is to question my packer, but after just a moment and thankfully before i brought it to her, i realized that it is impossible to be a packing error.

anybody ever seen this?

namaste, motherfucker.

[riddler 0]

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first a question: what do you call the ring the brake lines go through?

I've heard it referred to as the "guide ring", but it may be a better question for the gear and rigging forum.

Trapped on the surface of a sphere. XKCD

[bbarnhouse 0]

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I've heard it referred to as the "guide ring", but it may be a better question for the gear and rigging forum.

I believe this to be correct.